Answer
In all the New Testament occurrences where the word “submit” appears, it is translated from the Greek word “hupotasso.” The prefix “hupo” means “under,” and “tasso” means “to arrange.” This term and its root are also rendered as “subject” and “subjection.” The complete meaning of the word is “to obey, place under, be subject to, submit oneself to, place in subjection under, or be obedient to.” Originally used as a military term, it denoted “to organize troop divisions in a military manner under the leadership of a commander.” This word beautifully encapsulates the concept of “submitting” to God, signifying aligning oneself under the guidance of divine perspective rather than living according to one’s previous human-centered viewpoint. It involves surrendering our will to that of our Heavenly Father.
The Scriptures extensively discuss the importance of being submissive to the “higher powers,” referring to the foundational principles that God has established in our society—such as government and the leaders, regardless of their role, whom God has placed in authority over us on earth. Verses that emphasize this concept include Romans 13:1-7; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14; and Titus 3:1. The underlying principle is that obeying the authority figures over us, irrespective of their position, brings immediate blessings in the present and, for believers, future rewards. While God is the ultimate authority, He delegates authority to others; therefore, to submit to God means submitting to the authority He has appointed over us. Notably, there are no exceptions made between good or bad authority, or just or unjust authority. The directive is to humble ourselves and obey as if doing so “unto the Lord.”
Furthermore, we are instructed to submit ourselves to God, as stated in James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”, (James 4:7), it is written. In Ephesians, it is stated that the wife should submit to her husband as unto the Lord, and the husband is to “love” his wife (Ephesians 5:22-25). The Apostle Peter instructs, “Young men, in the same way, be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’” «Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. » (1 Peter 5:5). The central theme here is humility. Submission to God necessitates humility. Obedience demands that we humble ourselves to yield to the authority of another, and we are informed that God opposes pride—the antithesis of humility—and the arrogance that nurtures such pride.
Therefore, choosing to have a humble and submissive heart is a decision we must make. As born-again believers, we must daily choose to submit ourselves to God for the Holy Spirit’s work in us to “conform us to the image of Christ.” God will use the circumstances of our lives to provide us with opportunities to submit to Him (Romans 8:28-29). The believer then embraces His grace and provision to walk in the Spirit and not according to the ways of the old nature. This transformation is achieved by committing to the Word of God and understanding the provisions that God has granted us in Christ Jesus. Upon being born again, we are equipped, in Christ, with all the provisions necessary to mature as believers, but we must choose to explore these provisions through the study of the Word and apply them to our daily lives.
We must opt to submit to God for the process of learning.In order to grow spiritually, it is a process that begins at salvation and continues with each choice we make to submit ourselves to God. This progression will persist until the Lord returns or calls us home. The remarkable aspect of this is that, as the Apostle Paul eloquently expresses, “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” «But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.», (2 Corinthians 3:18).
God does not demand our submission because He is a tyrant, but because He is a loving Father who knows what is best for us. The blessings and peace we receive from humbly surrendering and submitting ourselves to Him daily are a grace-filled gift that nothing in this world can rival.